The Pit

Here I stand,
surrounded by darkness and all the shadows that dwell there,
looking into the light and finding myself
blind.

The light is in front of me,
the Pit lies behind.
One step and I will fall.

The shadows around me edge closer to
the Hole.

Eyes shining with tears,
one falls.
A scream winds behind her,
picked up by the others.

I throw myself in,
falling into darkness blacker than soot,
faster and faster.
I see her ahead.
I dive to her,
clutch her hand,
begin to cry.

I have no wings with which to save us.
We will keep falling until we die.
I hug her close until the end,
finally opening my eyes in the last second.
And I realize.

I am looking at myself.